Pepper hybrid SVR 11368833

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833 and the parent lines thereof, such as line SLR 148-7017 and SLR 113-1108. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Appl. Ser. No.61/515,279, filed Aug. 4, 2011, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833 and theinbred pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a pepper plant of thehybrid designated SVR 11368833, the pepper line SLR 113-1108 or pepperline SLR 148-7017. Also provided are pepper plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these pepper plants are also provided, for example, including pollen,an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid SVR11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017 comprising anadded heritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise agenetic locus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. Inone embodiment of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017 is defined ascomprising a single locus conversion. In specific embodiments of theinvention, an added genetic locus confers one or more traits such as,for example, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance,and modified carbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the traitmay be conferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into thegenome of a line by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or atransgene introduced through genetic transformation techniques into theplant or a progenitor of any previous generation thereof. Whenintroduced through transformation, a genetic locus may comprise one ormore genes integrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017. The pepper seed ofthe invention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous populationof pepper seed of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR113-1108 and SLR 148-7017. Essentially homogeneous populations of seedare generally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore,seed of hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR148-7017 may be defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed,including at least about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seedpopulation may be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneouspopulation of pepper plants designated SVR 11368833 and/or pepper linesSLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a pepper plant of hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR113-1108 and SLR 148-7017 is provided. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating pepper plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid SVR11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017 include thosetraits set forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in suchtissue cultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides pepperplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybridSVR 11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing pepper seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent pepper plant with a second parentpepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent pepperplants is a plant of pepper line SLR 113-1108 or pepper line SLR148-7017. These processes may be further exemplified as processes forpreparing hybrid pepper seed or plants, wherein a first pepper plant iscrossed with a second pepper plant of a different, distinct genotype toprovide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of pepper lineSLR 113-1108 or pepper line SLR 148-7017. In these processes, crossingwill result in the production of seed. The seed production occursregardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent pepper plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent pepper plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent pepper plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent pepper plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a pepper plant or hybrid pepperplant.

The present invention also provides the pepper seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent pepper plant with asecond parent pepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent pepper plants is a plant of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833 and/orpepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017. In one embodiment of theinvention, pepper seed and plants produced by the process are firstgeneration (F₁) hybrid pepper seed and plants produced by crossing aplant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. Thepresent invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybridpepper plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid pepper plant and seedthereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or pepper linesSLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or pepperlines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR113-1108 and SLR 148-7017 with a second plant; and (b) crossing theprogeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, themethod may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generationwith itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid SVR 11368833and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017. The plant derivedfrom hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR148-7017 may be an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossingsteps may be defined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce theinbred line. In the method, it may be desirable to select particularplants resulting from step (c) for continued crossing according to steps(b) and (c). By selecting plants having one or more desirable traits, aplant derived from hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108and SLR 148-7017 is obtained which possesses some of the desirabletraits of the line/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of pepperhybrid SVR 11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting atleast one pepper from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofpepper hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR148-7017 is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to referto the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of whichsequences defines the phenotype of, in the present case, a pepper plant,or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus representsthe genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides pepper plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the pepper plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR113-1108 and SLR 148-7017 could be identified by any of the many wellknown techniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence LengthPolymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 18:6531-6535, 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNAAmplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized AmplifiedRegions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science,280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by pepper plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a pepper plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second pepper plant, preferably, another, distinctpepper plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a pepperplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833, pepper line SLR113-1108 and pepper line SLR 148-7017. The hybrid SVR 11368833 isproduced by crossing parent lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017. Theparent lines show uniformity and stability within the limits ofenvironmental influence. By crossing the parent lines, uniform seed ofhybrid SVR 11368833 can be obtained.

Pepper hybrid SVR 11368833, also known as DRP 5548 and PX 11368833,develops strong plants with very early set fruits. The plants produce acontinuous set of uniform, dark green to shiny red fruits. The fruitshave mostly four lobes and are very smooth and firm. The hybrid isresistant to tobamo virus Pathotype Po. This resistance allows thehybrid to grow in the winter season.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Pepper Hybrid SVR 11368833

The parents of hybrid SVR 11368833, designated SLR 113-1108 and SLR148-7017, were created as follows.

The parent line SLR-113-1108 is an inbred that develops large leafy, anda vigor upright plants. The plants produce a medium maturing fruit witha good set of firm, deep, red, mostly three-lobe fruit. SLR-113-1108 wasselected from an F₂ population derived from F₁ hybrid 11335254 with thefollowing parents: female 2921336-M-2-2-1-1 and male 295346-M-1-3-3-2.The parents used to make the hybrid 11335254 were two F6 derived fromother two different hybrids. The female parent was derived fromLG577732382/SLY-29-463 and the male parent was derived fromF1B1S3YRKNL4G68632/G5025. The crossing and selections were made asfollows:

-   -   Summer, Year 1: Collected seed from the F₁ hybrid, as stake        04LT0517, in Latina, Italy.    -   Fall, Year 1: Planted the F₂ line (04LT0517-M), as stake        04LT4709 in Latina, Italy. Notes indicate vigor plants with a        continuous set of half long red firm fruits. Three selections        were made.    -   Winter, Year 1: Planted the F₃ line 04LT4709-1 as stake 05LT841        in Latina, Italy. Notes indicate that the line developed a vigor        plant, with a good production of regular firm, dark green        turning in shiny red fruits. One selection was made.    -   Fall, Year 2: Planted F₄ inbred 05LT841-1 as stake 05LT3892 in        Latina, Italy. Notes indicate regular and good plants with firm        half long pendant shiny red fruits. One selection was made.    -   Winter, Year 2: The F₅ 05LT3892-1 was tested for PVYp0 and        showed susceptibility and was submitted to foundation seed as        SLR-113-1108.

SLR-113-1108 has been observed as uniform and stable over twogenerations, and it is within commercially acceptable limits. As is truewith other sweet pepper inbreds, a small percentage of variants canoccur within commercially acceptable limits for almost anycharacteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However, noknown variants were observed during the three times that SLR-113-1108was observed in field trials.

The parent SLR-148-7017 is an inbred pepper that develops large leafy,and vigorous upright plants. The plants produce a medium maturing fruitwith a good set of firm, deep, red, mostly three-lobed fruit.SLR-148-7017 was selected from an F₂ population derived from F₁ hybridfrom Syngenta Seeds—“ALMUDEN (F1)” of unknown parent sources. Thecrossing and selections were made as follows:

-   -   Spring, Year 1: F2 was made collecting seed from Almuden F₁        hybrid, from a commercial grower in San Javier (Murcia), in        Spain.    -   Summer, Year 1: Planted the F₂ line (EX-1229), as stake 8193 in        El Ejido (Almeria), Spain. Notes indicate that the line show        vigor plants in a large half long red fruit types. 13 selections        were made.    -   Summer, Year 2: Planted the F₃ line 42AL-891303 as stake 3015 in        El Ejido (Almeria), Spain. Notes indicate a vigor plants with a        large half long red, smooth and firm fruits. One selection was        made.    -   Winter, Year 2: Planted F₄ inbred 52AL-301501 as stake 5231 in        El Ejido (Almeria), Spain. Notes confirmed plant vigor and fruit        size/shapes from previous generation. Besides high continue set        but late in ripen fruits were shown in this assay. Three        selections were made.    -   Summer, Year 3: 52AL-301501 transferred to Latina breeding        program to include in the Fall crossing block 2006 planted as        06LT2228.    -   Winter, Year 4: Planted 52AL-301501 at Latina Station in        pathology trials to evaluate the TSWV and Tobamo p0 resistances.        The results confirmed the resistance to Tobamo p0 and        susceptibility to TSWV.    -   Summer, Year 6: Planted again 52AL-301501 at Latina station to        confirm the phenological stability and after the evaluation the        line confirmed vigor plants with a large half long red, smooth        and firm fruits, thick fruit wall and shiny red color. Bulked        all the plants still keeping the original stake number.    -   Summer, Year 7: Sent to FS 20 gr of 52AL-301501 (Source's name        in MIDAS E3: “08 10 E3 E3 ANEE09AL01_(—)00001_(—)00001_(—)1_.”)        and designated as SLR-148-7017.    -   The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid produced        therefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur within        commercially acceptable limits for almost any characteristic        during the course of repeated multiplication. However no        variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Pepper Hybrid SVR11368833, Pepper Line SLR 113-1108 and Pepper Line SLR 148-7017

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833 and the parent linesthereof. A description of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Hybrid SVR11368833 PX 11368833 (SVR 11368833) CHARACTERISTIC (DRP 5548) Jumper 1.Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability)days from transplanting until 78 81 mature green stage days fromtransplanting until 87 91 mature red or yellow stage days from directseeding until 128 134 mature green stage days from direct seeding until139 144 mature red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit spreadingsemi-spreading attitude semi-upright/semi- semi-upright/semi- erect(Clovis, Sonar) erect (Clovis, Sonar) plant height 168-170 cm 139.3 cmplant width 75 61 cm length of stem from cotyledon 32.9 cm 31.1 cm tofirst flower length of the third internode 102.4 mm 96.6 mm (from soilsurface) length of stem medium (Belsir, medium (Belsir, Lamuyo) Lamuyo)shortened internode (in upper absent (California absent (Californiapart) wonder, De Cayenne) wonder, De Cayenne) basal branches none nonelength of blade medium (Atol, Blondy, medium (Atol, Blondy, Marconi,Merit, Marconi, Merit, Anthea) Anthea) width of blade medium (Albaregia,medium (Albaregia, Balaton, Danubia, Balaton, Danubia, Marconi, Merit)Marconi, Merit) 4. Leaf leaf width 122.2 mm 100.8 mm leaf length 213.26mm 184.2 mm petiole length 117.9 mm 118.4 mm color medium green lightgreen RHS Color Chart Value 137A 137B intensity of green color medium(Doux très light (Piquant d'Algérie, long des Landes, Merit) Pusztagold)mature leaf shape lanceolate (Diavolo, lanceolate (Diavolo, Recio)Recio) peduncle: attitude semi-drooping semi-drooping (Blondy) (Blondy)5. Flower flowers per leaf axil 1.06 1.06 calyx lobes 6.6 5.9 petals 6.55.7 diameter 24.6 mm 28.2 mm corolla color white white corolla throatmarkings absent absent anther color purple purple style length same asstamen same as stamen self-incompatibility absent absent 6. Fruit groupBell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (before maturity) green (California green(California wonder, Lamuyo) wonder, Lamuyo) intensity of color (beforemedium medium maturity) immature fruit color medium green medium greenimmature fruit color 138A 143A RHS Color Chart value attitude/positiondrooping/pendent (De drooping/pendent (De Cayenne, Lamuyo) Cayenne,Lamuyo) length long (Doux d'Espagne, medium (Fehér, Majister) Lamuyo)diameter narrow (Doux très long medium (Doux italien, des Landes) Cornodi toro) ratio length/diameter large (Heldor, Lamuyo, medium (Adra,Cherry magister, Tenno, Vidi) Sweet, Daniel, Delphin, Edino) calyxdiameter 35.6 mm 37.3 mm length 144.5 mm 123.5 mm diameter at calyxattachment 81.10 mm 93.5 mm diameter at mid-point 32.5 mm 95.9 mm fleshthickness at mid-point 6.68 mm 8.55 mm average number of fruits per 2.064 plant % large fruits (weight range: (weight range: 360 g and above)360 g and above) 60% 45% % medium fruits (weight range: (weight range:250 to 360 g) 250 to 360 g) 25% 40% % small fruits (weight range:(weight range: 250 g and below) 250 g and below) 5% 15% average fruitweight 339 gm 390 gm shape in longitudinal section rectangular (Clovis,Nocera rosso) shape in cross section (at level quad-rangular ofplacenta) sinuation of pericarp at basal medium (Duna, Banán) absent orvery weak part (Delphin, Kalocsai V-2, Milord) sinuation of pericarpabsent or very weak absent or very weak excluding basal part (Delphin,Milord) (Delphin, Milord) texture of surface smooth or very slightlysmooth or very slightly wrinkled (Milord) wrinkled (Milord) color (atmaturity) red (Fehér, Lamuyo) yellow (Golden calwonder, Heldor)intensity of color (at maturity) light medium mature fruit color redorange-yellow mature fruit color RHS Color 33A 15A Chart valueglossiness very weak/dull very weak/dull (Macska sárga, (Macska sárga,Pikanta) Pikanta) stalk cavity present (Bingor, present (Bingor, Lamuyo)Lamuyo) depth of stalk cavity deep (Osir, Quadrato deep (Osir, Quadratod'Asti rosso, Surpas) d'Asti rosso, Surpas) pedicel length 19.07 mm 43.0mm pedicel thickness 4.78 mm 14.3 mm pedicel shape curved curved pedicelcavity present present depth of pedicel cavity 23.03 mm 23.48 mm stalk:length short (Surpas, Yolo medium (Fehér, Sonar) Wonder, Zenith) stalk:thickness thin (Sweet banana) thick (Lamuyo, Trophy Palio) base shapecupped cupped shape of apex moderately depressed moderately depressed(Quadrato a'Asti rosso) (Quadrato a'Asti rosso) shape oblong (Jalapeno);oblate (Sunnybrook) set scattered scattered depth of interlocularygrooves medium (Clovis, shallow (Milord, Lamuyo, Marconi) Topgirl)number of locules predominantly four and equally three and four more(Palio, PAZ (Lamuyo, Sonar) szentesi) % fruits with one locule 0% 0% %fruits with two locules 0% 0% % fruits with three locules 33%  40.0%   %fruits with four locules 67%  60.0%   % fruits with five or more 0% 0%locules average number of locules 3.66 3.6 thickness of flesh medium(Fehér, thick (Andevalo, Bingor, Lamuyo) Daniel, Topgirl) calyx: aspectnon-enveloping/ non-enveloping/saucer- saucer-shaped shaped (Lamuyo,Sonar) (Lamuyo, Sonar) pungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent(Sonar) absent (Sonar) Measurement: Capsaicin per 0 mg 0 mg gram dryfruit flavor moderate pepper flavor moderate pepper flavor glossinessdull dull 7. Seed seed cavity length 117.6 mm 87.8 mm seed cavitydiameter 43.9 mm 65.3 mm placenta length 70.8 mm 40.01 mm number ofseeds per fruit 328.9 253.6 grams per 1000 seeds 4.9 gm 8.90 gm coloryellow yellow 8. Seedling plant: anthocyanin coloration absent absent ofstem plant: anthocyanin coloration weak weak of nodes stem: intensity ofanthocyanin very weak very weak coloration of nodes plant: anthocyanincoloration absent absent of leaf plant: anthocyanin coloration absentabsent of pedicel plant: anthocyanin coloration absent absent of calyxflower: anthocyanin present (Lamuyo) present (Lamuyo) coloration inanther fruit: anthocyanin coloration absent (Lamuyo) absent (Lamuyo)beginning of flowering (1^(st) medium (Lamuyo, medium (Lamuyo, flower on2^(nd) flowering node) Latino) Latino) *These are typical values. Valuesmay vary due to environment. Other values that are substantiallyequivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line SLR113-1108 CHARACTERISTIC SLR 113-1108 Jumper 1. Species C. annuum C.annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability) days fromtransplanting until 69 81 mature green stage days from transplantinguntil 81 91 mature red or yellow stage days from direct seeding until115 134 mature green stage days from direct seeding until 132 144 maturered or yellow stage 3. Plant habit spreading semi-spreading attitudesemi-upright/semi- semi-upright/semi- erect (Clovis, Sonar) erect(Clovis, Sonar) plant height 140 139.3 cm plant width 68 61 cm length ofstem from cotyledon 28.7 cm 31.1 cm to first flower length of the thirdinternode 83.2 mm 96.6 mm (from soil surface) length of stem medium(Belsir, medium (Belsir, Lamuyo) Lamuyo) shortened internode (in upperabsent (California absent (California part) wonder, De Cayenne) wonder,De Cayenne) basal branches none none branch flexibility willowy (Cayennewillowy (Cayenne Long Long Red) Red) length of blade medium (Atol,Blondy, medium (Atol, Blondy, Marconi, Merit, Marconi, Merit, Anthea)Anthea) width of blade medium (Albaregia, medium (Albaregia, Balaton,Danubia, Balaton, Danubia, Marconi, Merit) Marconi, Merit) 4. Leaf leafwidth 88.6 mm 100.8 mm leaf length 180.7 mm 184.2 mm petiole length 92.5mm 118.4 mm color medium green light green RHS Color Chart Value 137A137B intensity of green color medium (Doux très light (Piquantd'Algérie, long des Landes, Merit) Pusztagold) mature leaf shape ovate(Balico, Sonar) lanceolate (Diavolo, Recio) peduncle: attitudesemi-drooping semi-drooping (Blondy); (Blondy) 5. Flower flowers perleaf axil 1.13 1.06 calyx lobes 6.4 5.9 petals 6.4 5.7 diameter 29.4 mm28.2 mm corolla color white white corolla throat markings absent absentanther color purple purple style length same as stamen exceeds stamenself-incompatibility absent absent 6. Fruit group Bell (Yolo Wonder L.)Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (before maturity) green (California green(California wonder, Lamuyo) wonder, Lamuyo) intensity of color (beforemedium medium maturity) immature fruit color medium green medium greenimmature fruit color 138A 143A RHS Color Chart value attitude/positiondrooping/pendent (De drooping/pendent (De Cayenne, Lamuyo) Cayenne,Lamuyo) length medium (Fehér, medium (Fehér, Lamuyo) Lamuyo) diametermedium (Doux italien, medium (Doux italien, Corno di toro) Corno ditoro) ratio length/diameter medium (Adra, Cherry medium (Adra, CherrySweet, Daniel, Delphin, Sweet, Daniel, Delphin, Edino) Edino) calyxdiameter 14.05 mm 37.3 mm length 132.02 mm 123.5 mm diameter at calyxattachment 85 mm 93.5 mm diameter at mid-point 82.6 mm 95.9 mm fleshthickness at mid-point 8.44 mm 8.55 mm average number of fruits per 2.064 plant % large fruits (weight range: (weight range: 360 g and above)360 g and above) 58.33% 66.66% % medium fruits (weight range: (weightrange: 250 to 360 g) 250 to 360 g) 42% 33% % small fruits (weight range:(weight range: 250 g and below) 250 and below) 0% 0% average fruitweight 374 gm 390 gm shape in longitudinal section rectangular (Clovis,rectangular (Clovis, Nocera rosso Nocera rosso) shape in cross section(at level quad-rangular quad-rangular of placenta) sinuation of pericarpat basal absent or very weak absent or very weak part (Delphin, KalocsaiV- (Delphin, Kalocsai V-2, 2, Milord) Milord) sinuation of pericarpabsent or very weak absent or very weak excluding basal part (Delphin,Milord) (Delphin, Milord) texture of surface smooth or very slightlysmooth or very slightly wrinkled (Milord) wrinkled (Milord) color (atmaturity) red (Fehér, Lamuyo) yellow (Golden calwonder, Heldor)intensity of color (at maturity) light medium mature fruit color redorange-yellow mature fruit color RHS Color 34A 15A Chart valueglossiness very weak/dull very weak/dull (Macska sárga, (Macska sárga,Pikanta) Pikanta) stalk cavity present (Bingor, present (Bingor, Lamuyo)Lamuyo) depth of stalk cavity medium (Lamuyo, deep (Osir, QuadratoMagister) d'Asti rosso, Surpas) pedicel length 39.04 mm 43.0 mm pedicelthickness 10.9 mm 14.3 mm pedicel shape curved curved pedicel cavitypresent present depth of pedicel cavity 20.69 mm 23.48 mm stalk: lengthmedium (Fehér, Sonar) medium (Fehér, Sonar) stalk: thickness medium(Doux italien, thick (Lamuyo, Trophy Surpas) Palio) base shape cuppedcupped shape of apex moderately depressed moderately depressed (Quadratoa'Asti rosso) (Quadrato a'Asti rosso) shape oblate (Sunnybrook) oblate(Sunnybrook) set scattered scattered depth of interloculary groovesmedium (Clovis, shallow (Milord, Lamuyo, Marconi) Topgirl) number oflocules predominantly four and equally three and four more (Palio, PAZ(Lamuyo, Sonar) szentesi) % fruits with one locule 0% 0% % fruits withtwo locules 0% 0% % fruits with three locules 13%  40.0%   % fruits withfour locules 67%  60.0%   % fruits with five or more 0% 0% loculesaverage number of locules 3.83 3.6 thickness of flesh thick (Andevalo,thick (Andevalo, Bingor, Bingor, Daniel, Daniel, Topgirl) Topgirl)calyx: aspect non-enveloping/ non-enveloping/saucer- saucer-shapedshaped (Lamuyo, Sonar) (Lamuyo, Sonar) pungency sweet sweet capsaicin inplacenta absent (Sonar) absent (Sonar) Measurements: Capsaicin per 0 mg0 mg gram dry fruit flavor moderate pepper flavor moderate pepper flavorglossiness dull dull 7. Seed seed cavity length 94.8 mm 87.8 mm seedcavity diameter 51.28 mm 65.3 mm placenta length 51.4 mm 40.01 mm numberof seeds per fruit 233.44 253.6 grams per 1000 seeds 5.71 gm 8.90 gmcolor yellow yellow 8. Seedling plant: anthocyanin coloration absentabsent of stem plant: anthocyanin coloration weak weak of nodes stem:intensity of anthocyanin weak (California very weak coloration of nodeswonder, Clio, Doux d'Espagne, Dous très long des Landes, Goldencalwonder) plant: anthocyanin coloration absent absent of leaf plant:anthocyanin coloration absent absent of pedicel plant: anthocyanincoloration absent absent of calyx flower: anthocyanin present (Lamuyo)present (Lamuyo) coloration in anther fruit: anthocyanin colorationabsent (Lamuyo) absent (Lamuyo) beginning of flowering (1^(st) medium(Lamuyo, medium (Lamuyo, flower on 2^(nd) flowering node) Latino)Latino) *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment.Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scopeof the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line SLR148-7017 CHARACTERISTIC SLR 148-7017 Jumper 1. Species C. annuum C.annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability) days fromtransplanting until 82 81 mature green stage days from transplantinguntil 92 91 mature red or yellow stage days from direct seeding until130 134 mature green stage days from direct seeding until 141 144 maturered or yellow stage 3. Plant habit semi-spreading semi-spreadingattitude semi-upright/semi- semi-upright/semi- erect (Clovis, Sonar)erect (Clovis, Sonar) plant height 168-172 139.3 cm plant width 58 61 cmlength of stem from cotyledon 33.93 cm 31.1 cm to first flower length ofthe third internode 100 mm 96.6 mm (from soil surface) length of stemmedium (Belsir, medium (Belsir, Lamuyo) Lamuyo) shortened internode (inupper absent (California absent (California part) wonder, De Cayenne)wonder, De Cayenne) basal branches none none branch flexibility willowy(Cayenne willowy (Cayenne Long Long Red) Red) length of blade long(Cupido, Dolmy, medium (Atol, Blondy, Encore, Mazurka, Marconi, Merit,Anthea) Monte) width of blade broad (California medium (Albaregia,wonder, Golden Balaton, Danubia, calwonder, Seifor, Marconi, Merit)Solario) 4. Leaf leaf width 149.6 100.8 mm leaf length 228.33 184.2 mmpetiole length 113.9 mm 118.4 mm color medium green light green RHSColor Chart Value 137A 137B intensity of green color medium (Doux trèslight (Piquant d'Algérie, long des Landes, Merit) Pusztagold) matureleaf shape broad elliptic (Solario) lanceolate (Diavolo, Recio)peduncle: attitude semi-drooping semi-drooping (Blondy); (Blondy) 5.Flower flowers per leaf axil 1 1.06 calyx lobes 6.73 5.9 petals 6.2 5.7diameter 25 mm 28.2 mm corolla color white white corolla throat markingsabsent absent anther color purple purple style length same as stamensame as stamen; exceeds stamen self-incompatibility absent absent 6.Fruit group Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (beforematurity) green (California green (California wonder, Lamuyo) wonder,Lamuyo) intensity of color (before medium medium maturity) immaturefruit color medium green medium green immature fruit color 137A 143A RHSColor Chart value attitude/position drooping/pendent (Dedrooping/pendent (De Cayenne, Lamuyo) Cayenne, Lamuyo) length short(Delphin, Petit medium (Fehér, carré doux) Lamuyo) diameter narrow (Douxtrès long medium (Doux italien, des Landes) Corno di toro) ratiolength/diameter medium (Adra, Cherry medium (Adra, Cherry Sweet, Daniel,Delphin, Sweet, Daniel, Delphin, Edino) Edino) calyx diameter 12.5 mm37.3 mm length 53.8 mm 123.5 mm diameter at calyx attachment 28.3 mm93.5 mm diameter at mid-point 30.7 mm 95.9 mm flesh thickness atmid-point 5.97 mm 8.55 mm average number of fruits per 0.8 4 plant %large fruits (weight range: (weight range: 360 g and above) 360 g andabove) 7.14% 66.66% % medium fruits (weight range: (weight range: 250 to360 g) 250 to 360 g) 57% 33% % small fruits (weight range: (weightrange: 250 g and below) 250 g and below) 36% 0% average fruit weight 275gm 390 gm shape in longitudinal section rectangular (Clovis, rectangular(Clovis, Nocera rosso) Nocera rosso) shape in cross section (at levelangular/tri-angular quad-rangular of placenta) (Vinedale) sinuation ofpericarp at basal weak (Donat) absent or very weak part (Delphin,Kalocsai V-2, Milord) sinuation of pericarp absent or very weak absentor very weak excluding basal part (Delphin, Milord) (Delphin, Milord)texture of surface smooth or very slightly smooth or very slightlywrinkled (Milord) wrinkled (Milord) color (at maturity) red (Fehér,Lamuyo) yellow (Golden calwonder, Heldor) intensity of color (atmaturity) medium medium mature fruit color red orange-yellow maturefruit color RHS Color 34A 15A Chart value glossiness very weak/dull veryweak/dull (Macska sárga, (Macska sárga, Pikanta) Pikanta) stalk cavitypresent (Bingor, present (Bingor, Lamuyo) Lamuyo) depth of stalk cavitymedium (Lamuyo, deep (Osir, Quadrato Magister) d'Asti rosso, Surpas)pedicel length 18.7 mm 43.0 mm pedicel thickness 4.23 mm 14.3 mm pedicelshape curved curved pedicel cavity present present depth of pedicelcavity 21.89 mm 23.48 mm stalk: length short (Surpas, Yolo medium(Fehér, Sonar) Wonder, Zenith) stalk: thickness thin (Sweet banana)thick (Lamuyo, Trophy Palio) base shape cupped cupped shape of apexmoderately depressed moderately depressed (Quadrato a'Asti rosso)(Quadrato a'Asti rosso) shape oblate (Sunnybrook) oblate (Sunnybrook)set scattered scattered depth of interloculary grooves medium (Clovis,shallow (Milord, Lamuyo, Marconi) Topgirl) number of loculespredominantly three equally three and four (Century) (Lamuyo, Sonar) %fruits with one locule 0% 0% % fruits with two locules 0% 0% % fruitswith three locules 60%  40.0%   % fruits with four locules 33%  60.0%  % fruits with five or more 0% 0% locules average number of locules 3.353.6 thickness of flesh thin (Banán, Carré thick (Andevalo, Bingor, douxextra hâtif, Dous Daniel, Topgirl) très long des Landes) calyx: aspectnon-enveloping/ non-enveloping/saucer- saucer-shaped shaped (Lamuyo,Sonar) (Lamuyo, Sonar) pungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent(Sonar) absent (Sonar) Measurements: Capsaicin per 0 mg 0 mg gram dryfruit flavor moderate pepper flavor moderate pepper flavor glossinessdull dull 7. Seed seed cavity length 110.4 mm 87.8 mm seed cavitydiameter 53.69 mm 65.3 mm placenta length 68.06 mm 40.01 mm number ofseeds per fruit 171.4 253.6 grams per 1000 seeds 5.8 gm 8.90 gm coloryellow yellow 8. Seedling plant: anthocyanin coloration absent absent ofstem plant: anthocyanin coloration absent (Albaregia) weak of nodesstem: intensity of anthocyanin very weak very weak coloration of nodesplant: anthocyanin coloration absent absent of leaf plant: anthocyanincoloration absent absent of pedicel plant: anthocyanin coloration absentabsent of calyx flower: anthocyanin present (Lamuyo) present (Lamuyo)coloration in anther fruit: anthocyanin coloration absent (Lamuyo)absent (Lamuyo) beginning of flowering (1^(st) medium (Lamuyo, medium(Lamuyo, flower on 2^(nd) flowering node) Latino) Latino) *These aretypical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values thatare substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Pepper Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof pepper hybrid SVR 11368833 involving crossing pepper lines SLR113-1108 and SLR 148-7017. Alternatively, in other embodiments of theinvention, hybrid SVR 11368833, line SLR 113-1108, or line SLR 148-7017may be crossed with itself or with any second plant. Such methods can beused for propagation of hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or the pepper lines SLR113-1108 and SLR 148-7017, or can be used to produce plants that arederived from hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or the pepper lines SLR 113-1108and SLR 148-7017. Plants derived from hybrid SVR 11368833 and/or thepepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017 may be used, in certainembodiments, for the development of new pepper varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid SVR 11368833 followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross with SVR11368833 and/or pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017 for thepurpose of developing novel pepper lines, it will typically be preferredto choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or moreselected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and tasteare other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines ofpepper plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid SVR 11368833 exhibits desirable traits, asconferred by pepper lines SLR 113-1108 and SLR 148-7017. The performancecharacteristics of hybrid SVR 11368833 were the subject of an objectiveanalysis of the performance traits relative to other varieties. Theresults of the analysis are presented below.

TABLE 4 Performance Characteristics For Hybrid SVR 11368833 SVR Variety11368833 Barocco Edo Source Monsanto Clause Vilmoren Tobamo virus (P0)resistance yes yes yes Tomato Spotted Wilt virus (p0) no no noresistance Potato virus Y (p0) no no no Fruit size Large Medium MediumFruit wall Very Medium medium thick Maturity early early late

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those pepper plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene. Oneembodiment of the current invention therefore provides a plant asdescribed herein that comprises a single locus conversion and/ortransgene, wherein the plant comprises essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a plant providedherein. It is understood in the art that “single locus conversion”encompasses loci that are both transgenic and non-transgenic in theirorigin.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalpepper plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental pepper plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a pepper plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny pepper plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of pepper the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of pepper plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3 (7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21 (3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591,1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the Figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem;the Cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a Sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter; a Commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a pepper plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a pepper plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a peppervariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a pepper plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833 and inbred parent lines SLR113-1108 and SLR 148-7017, disclosed above and recited in the claims,has been made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of each of thedeposits was Jul. 7, 2011. The accession numbers for those depositedseeds of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833 and inbred parent lines SLR 113-1108and SLR 148-7017 are ATCC Accession No. PTA-11973, ATCC Accession No.PTA-11971 and ATCC Accession No. PTA-11972, respectively. Upon issuanceof a patent, all restrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and thedeposits are intended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R.§1.801-1.809. The deposits will be maintained in the depository for aperiod of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for theeffective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replacedif necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pepper plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of pepper line SLR 148-7017 or pepper line SLR 113-1108, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11972, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11971, respectively.
 2. A pepper seed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of pepper line SLR 148-7017 or pepper line SLR 113-1108, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11972, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11971, respectively.
 3. The plant of claim 1, which is an inbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which is a hybrid.
 5. The seed of claim 2, which is inbred.
 6. The seed of claim 2, which is hybrid.
 7. The plant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is pepper hybrid SVR 11368833, a sample of seed of said hybrid SVR 11368833 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11973.
 8. The seed of claim 6, defined as a seed of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833, a sample of seed of said hybrid SVR 11368833 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11973.
 9. The seed of claim 2, defined as a seed of line SLR 148-7017 or line SLR 113-1108.
 10. A plant part of the plant of claim
 1. 11. The plant part of claim 10, further defined as a leaf, a ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 12. A pepper plant having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the pepper plant of claim
 7. 13. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim
 1. 14. The tissue culture according to claim 13, comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 15. A pepper plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 13, wherein said plant has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the pepper plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of pepper line SLR 148-7017 or pepper line SLR 113-1108, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11972 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11971, respectively.
 16. A method of vegetatively propagating the pepper plant of claim 1 comprising the steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from a plant according to claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising growing at least a first pepper plant from said rooted plantlets.
 18. A method of introducing a desired trait into a pepper line, comprising: (a) utilizing as a recurrent parent a plant of either pepper line SLR 148-7017 or pepper line SLR 113-1108, by crossing a plant of pepper line SLR 148-7017 or pepper line SLR 113-1108 with a second donor pepper plant that comprises a desired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11972, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11971, respectively; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises the desired trait; (c) backcrossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant of the same pepper line used as the recurrent parent in step (a), to produce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired trait and the physiological and morphological characteristics of the recurrent parent pepper line used in step (a); and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny that comprise the desired trait, and otherwise comprise essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent pepper line used in step (a).
 19. A pepper plant produced by the method of claim
 18. 20. A method of producing a pepper plant comprising an added trait, the method comprising introducing a transgene conferring the trait into a plant of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833, pepper line SLR 148-7017 or pepper line SLR 113-1108, a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11973, ATCC Accession Number PTA-11972, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11971, respectively.
 21. A pepper plant produced by the method of claim
 20. 22. The plant of claim 1, further comprising a transgene.
 23. The plant of claim 22, wherein the transgene confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 24. The plant of claim 1, further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein said plant otherwise comprises essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the pepper plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of pepper line SLR 148-7017 or pepper line SLR 113-1108, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11972 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11971, respectively.
 25. The plant of claim 24, wherein the single locus conversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 26. A method for producing a pepper seed of a plant derived from at least one of pepper hybrid SVR 11368833, pepper line SLR 148-7017 or pepper line SLR 113-1108 comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a pepper plant of hybrid SVR 11368833, line SLR 148-7017 or line SLR 113-1108 with itself or a second pepper plant; a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11973, ATCC Accession Number PTA-11972, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11971, respectively; and (b) allowing seed of a hybrid SVR 11368833, line SLR 148-7017 or line SLR 113-1108-derived pepper plant to form.
 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of: (c) selfing a plant grown from said hybrid SVR 11368833, line SLR 148-7017 or line SLR 113-1108-derived pepper seed to yield additional hybrid SVR 11368833, line SLR 148-7017 or line SLR 113-1108-derived pepper seed; (d) growing said additional hybrid SVR 11368833, line SLR 148-7017 or line SLR 113-1108-derived pepper seed of step (c) to yield additional hybrid SVR 11368833, line SLR 148-7017 or line SLR 113-1108-derived pepper plants; and (e) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) to generate at least a first further hybrid SVR 11368833, line SLR 148-7017 or line SLR 113-1108-derived pepper plant.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the second pepper plant is of an inbred pepper line.
 29. The method of claim 26, comprising crossing line SLR 148-7017 with line SLR 113-1108, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11972, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11971, respectively.
 30. The method of claim 27, further comprising: (f) crossing the further hybrid SVR 11368833, line SLR 148-7017 or line SLR 113-1108-derived pepper plant with a second pepper plant to produce seed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 31. A plant part of the plant of claim
 7. 32. The plant part of claim 31, further defined as a leaf, a flower, a fruit, an ovule, pollen, or a cell.
 33. A method of producing a pepper seed comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a second pepper plant and allowing seed to form.
 34. A method of producing a pepper fruit comprising: (a) obtaining a plant according to claim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting a pepper from the plant. 